John Peter is a ten-year-old boy from Haiti. He lives in Port-au-Prince with his mother, father, older brother, and younger sister. He is in the fourth grade, and he hopes to become a teacher or an engineer when he grows up.
John Peter has a condition called severe rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the valves of his heart became severely damaged by an infection and can no longer pump blood to the rest of his body. As a result, blood backs up into his heart.
John Peter flew to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. Before surgery, he shared, “I am a little bit scared about my surgery, but mostly excited to travel to a new country and make new friends!”
On December 9, he underwent open heart surgery, during which surgeons repaired the valve. This $12,000 surgery was subsidized by Have a Heart Cayman Islands. John Peter’s family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who accompanied John Peter’s family overseas.